Ford Hall Forum Recordings

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  John Keller with Jeff Jacoby discusses, "The Bluest State: How Democrats Created the Massachusetts Blueprint for American Political Disaster" at Ford Hall Forum, 10/5/2008

  John Keller and Jeff Jacoby

  Massachusetts. It is the proud birthplace of modern-day liberalism, and the nation’s foremost test kitchen for its agenda and political practices. It is also, some say, home to sluggish economic growth, insular political culture, and a government that often fails to deliver relief for the working-class people it claims to help the most. Are Massachusetts politics an ideal others should strive toward? Or have we led the rest of the country (or at least its Democrats) dangerously off course? Jon Keller, WBZ-TV News’ Political Analyst, and Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe columnist, review the ups and downs of Massachusetts political culture and what can be done to carve out a “new frontier” of American leadership.

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  George Lakoff discusses, "The Political Mind: Why You Can't Understand 21st Century American Politics with an 18th Century Brain" at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 6/5/2008

  George Lakoff

  Professor George Lakoff, author of Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think, Whose Freedom?, and Don’t Think of an Elephant!, explores the connections between cognitive science and political action. Why do many American vote against their own interests? Humans, he argues, are not the rational creatures we’ve so long imagined ourselves to be. Any savvy political campaigns should not assume people will use an objective system of reasoning when deciding how to vote. Lakoff discusses his new book, The Political Mind, and explore how the mind works, how society works, and how they work together.

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  Cecile Richards discusses, "President of Planned Parenthood, Banned in Boston: The Silent Speech of Margaret Sanger" at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 5/29/2008

  Cecile Richards

  “You all know that I have been gagged. I have been suppressed. I have been arrested numerous times. I have been hauled off to jail. yet every time, more people have listened to me, more have protested, more have lifted their own voices.” Thus read Arthur Schlesinger, Sr. in 1929 as Margaret Sanger sat silent beside him on the stage of Ford Hall, banned under court injunction from speaking herself. Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood, reflects on that event; its meaning, its messengers, and the era that gave us the phrase, “Banned in Boston.”

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  Danny Schechter discusses, "News Dissecting from Boston to a Global Stage: A Multi-media Pioneer Challenges His Profession and Calls for Media Reform" at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 4/17/2008

  Danny Schechter

  Danny Schechter “The news Dissector,” launched a media career in Boston on WBCN Radio. He became a Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard, a reporter at WGBH, a producer at WLVI and WCVB, and then went on to CNN and ABC News where he won two Emmys. However, he believes media, the field in which he has worked for four decades, is harming our democracy. Are major corporations capable of presenting the news effectively? Can independent media — empowered with the tools of a technological revolution — do any better? Schechter looks back on his journey from Boston to the world stage and explore the rapidly changing ways in which we receive our information.

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  Strobe Talbott discusses, "The Great Experiment, the Story of Ancient Empires, Modern States, and the Quest for a Global Nation" at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 4/3/2008

  Strobe Talbott

  In his new book, The Great Experiment, Strobe Talbott, former Deputy Secretary of State (1994 – 2001) and current president of the Brookings Institution, recounts the progression to a global nation (i.e. The League of Nations and the U.N.). Through the lens of history and personal experience, he assesses the prospects for global cooperation and the United States’ role in the process. What can we learn from empires and conflicts of the past? Can a world made up of many nations govern itself peacefully? Talbott joins us tonight to give us an insider’s opinion of current United States foreign policy and explain why he believes we should take the lead in multilateral global politics for the future.

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  Laurence H. Tribe discusses, "The Invisible Constitution" at Ford Hall Forum, video recording, 9/25/2008

  Laurence H. Tribe

  Between the lines of our parchment Constitution, renowned legal scholar Laurence Tribe argues, there is an “Invisible Constitution.” Tribe purports that some of our most cherished and widely held beliefs about our constitutional rights are not even included in the written document. How does this “Invisible Constitution” impact the central constitutional debates of our time – from gun control to abortion to wire-tapping? How has this framework for reading the Constitution evolved, and how does it work? Professor Laurence Tribe, Harvard Law School, discusses how we interpret our country’s most important document.

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  Jimmy Wales and Christopher Lydon discuss, "Free Speech, Free Minds, Free Markets" at Ford Hall Forum, video recording, 9/11/2008

  Jimmy Wales

  Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales addresses how Objectivist philosophy guides his nonprofit work.

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  Ali S. Asani and Mona Eltahawy discuss, "You Don't Know Us: Voices from the Moderate Muslim Majority," at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 3/15/2007

  Ali S. Asani and Mona Eltahawy

  The world’s 1.4 billion Muslims encompass an enormous range of beliefs and practices, a world of cultures—from Arab to post-Soviet to Indian to American, and a wide spectrum of movements—from liberal progressive to Islamist. However, today’s headlines all too often highlight the familiar stories of violence and extremism within the Islamic world. Is religion truly the driving force behind these actions? Where is the space for voices of the moderate majority to be heard? In our country, where many became acquainted with Islam only in the context of September 11th, how can we better understand this major world religion? Professor Ali Asani and Mona Eltahawy explore the tensions within modern Islam and how we can better understand them. Moderated by Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe columnist.

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  Paul D. Biddinger, MD and Lisa Stone, MD discuss "Disaster Preparedness in Massachusetts: Ready? Or not?" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 5/3/2007

  Paul D. Biddinger and Lisa Stone

  Real and predicted calamities during the last decade have placed a sharp focus on America’s need to prepare for disaster. In particular, Hurricane Katrina showed the nation just how devastating a lack of preparation can be. Massachusetts now faces a host of questions about our ability to respond to emergency situations – whether it is an LNG tank explosion or an avian flu pandemic. Officials are raising their voices to say we need to do more, and do it soon. But is anyone listening? With the State Legislature yet to act on a pandemic preparations bill and hospital emergency rooms throughout the Commonwealth already operating beyond capacity, just how ready is our state to cope with a major disaster? What really needs to be done to prepare? And what are the consequences of inaction?

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  John W. Dean discusses, "Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches" at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 9/13/2007

  John W. Dean

  John W. Dean, counsel to president Richard Nixon, the government’s key witness in the Watergate trial, and best-selling author of Conservatives without Conscience and Worse than Watergate, joins us tonight to address what he sees as the “dysfunction chaos and institutional damage” the Republican party and its core conservatives have brought to the federal government. Are the nation’s current political ills primarily the fault of the Republicans? Have the Democrats been any better? Most importantly, what can politically moderate citizens do to combat extremism, authoritarianism, and incompetence from political leaders of either party? The program is presented in collaboration with the Old South Meeting House as part of the Partners in Public Dialogue Series.

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  Kitty Dukakis, Michael Dukakis, and Larry Tye: Shock discuss "The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 10/15/2007

  Kitty Dukakis, Michael S. Dukakis, and Larry Tye

  After suffering from decades from severe depression, substance abuse problems, and hospitalizations, Kitty Dukakis now credits her recovery to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Opponents of ECT would like to see the treatment banned on the basis of its common side effects, including memory loss. Many patients say these are a small price to pay for control over a disabling condition. Governor Michael Dukakis and author Larry Tye join Kitty Dukakis for a discussion on how this medical treatment – along with the support of family and loved ones – can potentially help individuals through the horrors of clinical depression.

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  Marshall Goldman and Uri Ra'anan discuss, "Power, Petroleum, and Flawed Succession: The Roots and Impact of Putin's Russia" at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 3/22/2007

  Marshall Goldman and Uri Ra'anan

  Russia is reemerging as an international power—as strong as in czarist or Soviet times—and President Vladimir Putin shows troubling tendencies of reverting to authoritarian and imperial habits. Russia recently overtook Saudi Arabia as the world’s leading producer of oil, and it has demonstrated a clear willingness to flex this muscle on the world stage. Within its own borders, corruption, contract killing, and media censorship have become routine. Should we regard this nation as a threat to the West, or as an ally? How does its use of energy supplies as an instrument of foreign policy affect global markets? In a country that historically lacks a mechanism for legitimate succession, what should we expect as Putin steps down in 2008? Professors Marshall Goldman and Uri Ra’anan explore the impact of the Kremlin’s concentrated political power in an age of booming oil and gas wealth.

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  Paul Hawken discusses "Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being, and Why No One Saw it Coming" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording and transcript, 5/21/2007

  Paul Hawken

  From billion-dollar nonprofits to single person causes, there is a growing worldwide movement of organizations dedicated to restoring the environment and fostering social justice. This is a movement with no name, leader, or headquarters, but it can be seen in every city, town, and culture. It is organizing from the bottom up and is emerging as an extraordinary and creative expression of shared values worldwide. What are the driving forces behind these developments? Can the interests of these organizations translate into effective government policies and profitable businesses? Paul Hawken, environmentalist, businessman, and founder of the first natural foods company, addresses the creation of a worldwide grassroots movement based on hope and humanity.

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  Garrison Keillor discusses his book Pontoon at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording and transcript, 9/17/2007

  Garrison Keillor

  Garrison Keillor, author, storyteller, humorist, and creator of the weekly radio show A Prairie Home Companion, joins us tonight to share from his latest Lake Wobegon novel. Set in the iconic Midwestern small town – a place where “the women and strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average” – Pontoon is a story about a woman with a secret. Keillor’s tales of lake Wobegon have touched the hearts of millions and, as stated by the Chicago Tribune, captured “what is small and ordinary and therefore potentially profound and universal in American life.” This program is presented in collaboration with WGBH.

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  Rami Khouri and Stephen Burgard discuss "Baghdad, Tehran, Beirut and Jerusalem- A Critical Arab View of America's Middle East Policies" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 11/15/2007

  Rami G. Khouri and Stephen Burgard

  Rami Khouri is a Beirut-based internationally syndicated columnist, Director of the Islam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, and editor-at-large of The Daily Star newspaper. He also regularly shares his insights on the BBC, NPR, and CNN. Khouri sheds light on the forces shaping the direction and impact of United States policy in the Middle East. Where is the failing? Are there effective policies and programs that should be expanded? And what are the challenges that lay ahead?

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  Richard S. Lindzen discusses, "Is Global Warming a Cause for Alarm?" at Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 4/22/2007

  Richard S. Lindzen

  Our planet has become warmer in recent decades, and there is a growing chorus—as evidenced in the recently released summary report of the U.N. Panel on Climate Change—claiming that, unless we curb production of greenhouse gases, the consequences will be disastrous. However, some still remain unconvinced that economy-wide carbon caps and similar regulatory measures will help the situation, the President among them. Does the cost of regulation outweigh the damage of inaction? Should the United States government take dramatic public policy steps and become a party to international treaties, or continue to wait and see? Should we brace for stronger hurricanes, invasions of tropical diseases, and significant increases in sea levels, or is the danger overstated? Prof. Richard Lindzen steps into the fray to offer his view that irrational alarm may be clouding our judgment. Join us for tonight’s discussion as we explore what the future holds for our planet—and what we should do about it.

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  Charlie Savage discusses "Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 10/4/2007

  Charlie Savage

  President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution. Is such an interpretation of presidential power necessary in an age of terrorism and imminent security threats? Or, as one critic suggests, will these new tools “lie around like a loaded weapon” for any future president, liberal or conservative, to impose his or her own agenda on the country? Charlie Savage, Boston Globe reporter and winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, joins us tonight to address the Bush administration’s expanding executive powers and what it means for the future of our country. This program is presented in collaboration with the Old South Meeting House as part of the Partners in Public Dialogue Series.

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  Dr. Yaron Brook discusses "Democracy vs. Victory: Why the Forward Strategy of Freedom Had to Fail" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 10/22/2006

  Yaron Brook

  After Sept. 11th, the Bush administration declared that we must bring freedom to the Middle Eastern nations that threaten us; thus, the Forward Strategy of Freedom. By establishing democracies in key Muslim countries, starting with Afghanistan and Iraq, we would spur a revolution in the rest of the Muslim world—a revolution that would bring free, pro-Western, anti-terrorist governments to power. But the strategy has failed. The Muslim world has grown more militant, radical leaders are being elected to power, and Islamic totalitarian groups like Hamas and Hezbollah are on the rise. Dr. Yaron Brook discusses the inherent flaws of the Forward Strategy of Freedom and explore what should replace it.

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  Paul Cellucci discusses, "The Importance of Public Diplomacy in the Post Cold War, Post 9/11 World," at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 3/23/2006

  Argeo Paul Cellucci

  America is faced with a new set of opportunities, threats, and moral responsibility on the world stage: How can the U.S. capitalize on the “flattened” economic playing field and three billion new participants joining the global marketplace? Can we defend ourselves against another major terrorist attack or developing nuclear threats? How effective are our foreign aid programs? The U.S. State Department increasingly finds itself on the front lines of these critical issues. Governor Cellucci will offer his offer his thoughts on how public diplomacy can help to ensure the safety, prosperity, and moral vision of our nation.

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  George Q. Daley, Dan W. Brock, Rudolf Jaenisch discuss, "Stem Cells: Where Will the Road Lead?" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 5/4/2006

  George Q. Daley and Dan W. Brock

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  John Darnton and Misia Landau discuss "The Darwin Conspiracy" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 9/28/2006

  John Darton and Misia Landau

  John Darnton, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, best-selling author of Neanderthal, The Experiment and, most recently, The Darwin Conspiracy, and Cultural News Editor of The New York Times. Darwin’s theories of natural selection and evolution have been debated and disputed since The Origin of Species was first published in 1859. The concept of humans evolving from apes challenged the prevailing sense of natural order and shifted the scientific paradigm. Drawing on the research for his best selling novel The Darwin Conspiracy, author and journalist John Darnton will examine what current theories of intelligent design share with the arguments of Darwin’s creationist critics and how they differ. Darnton will also discuss the often-thorny questions of separating fact and fiction in the writing of historical novels.

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  Maggie Gallagher discusses, "The Case Against Same-Sex Marriage," at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 4/06/2006

  Maggie Gallagher

  Maggie Gallagher, President of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, argues that to the only way to win the gay marriage debate is to win the marriage debate: to emerge with a deeper, richer, understanding of marriage as a social and legal institution. In Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that there is no rational reason why marriage has been almost universally considered a union of husband and wife. Other courts in New York and New Jersey recently disagreed. Why do we have laws about marriage? What is a “civil union”? The debate is not over.

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  Margaret Morganroth Gullette discusses, "Aged by Culture" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 4/27/2006

  Margaret Morganroth Gullette

  Margaret Morganroth Gullette, Resident Scholar at the Women Studies Research Center at Brandeis University and author of the prizewinning Declining to Decline and Aged by Culture. “We are aged more by culture than by chromosomes” says Margaret M. Gullette, “and enemies on this front cannot be fought with gyms, Gingko, liposuction, or self-esteem.” The way Americans have come to view aging past youth has been affected recently by Supreme Court decisions, movements to counter midlife discrimination, and messages we send to our children and adolescents. Do our cultural norms affect the way we age? How does this work? What are the social and economic implications? Can there be a better way?

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  "The Great Fire Wall of China" discussion with Ethan Guttmann, Hiawatha Bray, Valerie Epps and John Jaw at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 10/12/2006

  Ethan Gutmann, Hiawatha Bray, and Valerie Epps

  Ethan Guttmann, author of Losing the New China: A Story of American Commerce, Desire and Betrayal, former Foreign Policy Analyst at the Brookings Institution; Hiawatha Bray, The Boston Globe’s technology reporter; and John Jaw, founder of the Boston’s English-language and Chinese-language editions of The Epoch Times. Moderated by Valerie Epps, Director of the International Law Concentration at Suffolk University. There is no Google in China—at least not one that is uncensored. Websites are blacklisted -Wikipedia, BlogSpot, and BBC News, to name just a few – and content providers like Yahoo!, AOL, and Skype, censor themselves so that they can operate in the country. To the dismay of some human rights advocates and media groups, it is principally American firms providing the Chinese government with technology to filter data as it comes and goes. Is there a better way to deal with China’s laws and policies? Is a restricted internet better than no internet at all? And can the “Golden Shield” stand up to a barrage of software designed specifically to circumvent it? A panel of experts discuss the collision between new technologies and the national interests of the world’s most populous country.

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  Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J. and Joseph F. Savage discuss, "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Execution" at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording, 9/28/2006

  Helen Prejean and Joseph F. Savage

  Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., author of Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States and The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Execution. Sister Helen currently works with the Death Penalty Discourse Center, the Moratorium Campaign, and the Dead Man Walking Play Project. Should any state have the power to execute? Is the death penalty appropriate retribution for particularly heinous murders? Does it deter crime? Does it fundamentally violate human rights? Author and activist Sister Helen Prejean has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue around these questions. Her book, Dead Man Walking, which portrays her experiences as a spiritual advisor to death row inmates, became a best seller and spawned the Oscar-winning movie of the same title. Tonight, Sister Helen will discuss her life, her work, and why she continues to fight to end capital punishment.